Epilogue ~ Rhett

6 months later

Rhett watched as Tae carried their boy around. She was beaming and Levi was smiling up at her. The two's relationship had grown and blossomed into a beautiful thing.

He looked over at his brother, who gave him a big thumbs up. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his raging nerves.

They were having a big barbeque with all the family and friends. They even brought in a band that was local from their town. It was a big summer shindig to kick off the start of the new season.

His mother came over and gave him a hug. She leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"Calm down, or you'll give it away. That girl can read you like a book," she said, giving his arm a squeeze.

She then, as in her usual style, made herself disappear.

Rhett huffed.

How did she do that?

He looked over just in time to see Max lean down and whisper in a blonde-haired girl's ear. He looked closer at the girl.

He stared in disbelief. It couldn't be Rylee Lewis. Their family moved away when Max and Rylee were in high school. As he stared for a minute more, he decided that it was, in fact, Rylee Lewis.

He walked over to the two of them. Max's eyes widened when he saw Rhett, but he didn't do anything more.

"Rylee Lewis?" he asked.

He gave the girl a big smile, and she smiled and nodded.

"It's been a while," she said softly.

He nodded. Yes, it had been a while. He wondered what Max was doing with Rylee. Rylee had been Jake's girl who got away for as long as Rhett could remember. He didn't know if Max knew that, but he hoped he didn't. That would be breaking the brother code big time.

"What are you doing back in town?" he asked her.

She smiled and laughed.

"Actually, I just got moved here for work. Isn't that funny? I'm working in the veteran's center in Richards. I'm a therapist there," she said explaining.

"Ha, well I'll be," he said shaking his head.

He was surprised she'd gone into that line of work.

"Well, I hope you enjoy today. The world can be full of surprises," he said, sending Max a wink.

Max chuckled.

"Yeah, today isn't really a surprise to anyone, Rhett. Y'all were made for each other," he said.

Rhett's smile widened.

"Oh, hey, that's Mrs. Reeves. I'm going to say hello," Rylee said as she made her way away from them.

Rhett watched her walk away until she had made her way to old Mrs. Reeves. Then, he turned to his brother.

"I hope you know what the hell you're doing," he said to Max.

Max sent him a glare.

"What did you say about Taylor when you first got together?" Max asked.

Rhett raised his eyebrows in question.

"She's just a friend in need of some help, okay?"Max said.

Rhett looked at him in question, but nodded.

"I'm not going to ask because it's not my business, but if you need anything let me know," Rhett said.

Max nodded.

"Actually I do. How did you get Taylor to take your help? Rylee needs my help, but won't admit it," he said.

Rhett chuckled.

"The best way to help is to not," Rhett said.

Max looked at him like he was crazy.

"She needs to know that you're there for her as a friend. Not there because you feel obligated to help," he explained.

Max nodded.

"That makes sense. Thank you, Rhett," he said.

"Don't thank me yet. Now, I hope you know what the hell you are doing because that one there," he pointed at Rylee, "was Jake's girl for a long time," he said.

Max shook his head.

"I know. It's not like that. She just needs a friend. But, speaking of that, brother, have you heard from him? He didn't answer our last Skype call."

Rhett shook his head.

"I haven't heard from him in a month or two," he answered.

Max nodded.

"He needs to come home," Max said.

"I don't disagree with you," Rhett said as he turned.

Max nodded toward the people around them.

"Well, looks like you better get on with it," Max said with a grin.

He gave Rhett an encouraging pat on his shoulder.

Rhett smiled and thanked him. He then moved on to find his woman and son. He found them sitting at a picnic table drinking lemonade.

"Found the shade, huh?" he asked as he sat down.

Levi was playing with a straw and using it to poke his mother. She looked down at him and gave him the mom look. He stopped poking her and went back to playing with it.

"Yep, trouble here is about to be sporting a sunburn if we don't," she said ruffling Levi's hair.

Rhett laughed at the boy's expense.

"I can't believe he's already nine months old, Rhett," she said sighing.

Rhett laughed again at her sadness.

"Hey, he'll be walking soon," he said. "Can you just imagine how much fun that will be," he said, chuckling.

Taylor grimaced.

"I won't be able to keep him indoors once he can walk," she said shaking her head.

He nodded his agreement. There was no way that Levi would voluntarily stay inside the house when he could be outside.

"He's a lot like his daddy in that way," she said sending him a look.

He laughed.

"Hey, I'm raising him right, okay?" he said shrugging.

She giggled, and he sighed.

It was almost time. He heard the band start playing the song he'd requested, and grabbed her hand.

"Dance with me?" he asked her.

His mother popped up beside them magically.

"Where's my favorite grandson?" she asked.

Taylor laughed and handed Levi over.

She placed her hand in his, and Rhett drug her over to where some other couples were dancing. She sighed and curled up into his chest.

"I love this song," she murmured and hummed along with it.

Rhett chuckled and led her around through half the song.

"Hmm, if you like it that much, then maybe we should dance to it at the wedding," he whispered in her ear.

She froze.

He chuckled as he stepped back to get down on one knee.

"Taylor Reece Houston, you fell into my heart the same day you fell into my arms. I think I've loved you since that day. You keep my life on track and remind me of all the good things I have when life throws me curveballs. You reassure me when I'm worried, and you care for me when I'm sick. You raise our son as if he's your own, even if he's not. You're showing him how to love and put others first. That's what I love about you the most, you only think of others," he said.

He paused to take a breath. She had tears running down her cheeks, and she was biting her lip to keep it from trembling.

He continued, "Tae, I would be honored to spend every day of the rest of my life with you. I want you to be the one to help me raise Levi and to give him younger siblings. I want to wake up to you every morning, and kiss you before bed every night. Tae Houston, will you marry me?" he asked.

Taylor nodded vigorously, then jumped in his arms.

"Yes!" she shouted.

She peppered kisses all over his face, and he smiled as her tears continued to fall.

He dried her tears, then took her hand to put the ring on. Everyone around them began to cheer.

Mama brought Levi over, and Rhett took him from her. He held Levi in between them as he laid a kiss on his fiancé's lips.

"Here's to every day of the rest of our lives," he said as he kissed her again.

He couldn't wait to make her his, officially. He knew she was the only one for him, and he sighed in complete happiness as he watched his love kiss his son. He was a lucky man.

~The End~